Rehabilitating Abu Loza's Historic Bath: A Case Study of Heritage Conservation and Reuse Opportunities in Qatif, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

This paper investigates the perceptions and implications surrounding AbuLoza's Historic Bath, a prominent cultural heritage site in Saudi Arabia's Qatif region, with a focus on public awareness, attitudes, and behaviors toward its preservation and rehabilitation. Through a survey distributed via social media using snowball sampling, 515 valid responses were collected and analyzed using the Pearson Chi-Square test to explore key relationships. The findings reveal significant variations in knowledge about the site across age groups, underscoring the need for targeted awareness campaigns. Age and employment status also influence individuals' perceptions of the site's importance and their likelihood of visiting, with employed individuals showing a greater propensity for post-rehabilitation engagement (χ2 = 70.362, df = 6, p < 0.001). The study highlights the broader value of repurposing heritage buildings to meet tourism, cultural, and educational demands while fostering job creation and enhancing regional identity. These findings offer actionable insights for policymakers, heritage organizations, and tourism stakeholders, supporting strategic decision-making to preserve and promote cultural heritage in the Qatif region and beyond.