This study evaluates the social impacts of petroleum mulching, a soil stabilization technique used to mitigate sandstorm effects in Iran's arid regions. Desertification threatens agricultural productivity and community resilience, necessitating effective intervention strategies. Although petroleum mulching has been widely examined from agronomic and environmental perspectives, its social implications remain insufficiently understood. Focusing on communities in Khuzestan and Sistan and Baluchistan provinces, the study employs a mixedmethods approach, integrating quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews with 160 participants across three villages. Data analysis incorporates descriptive and inferential statistical methods alongside thematic analysis of qualitative data. Results suggest comparatively more positive perceived social and economic effects in Khuzestan, whereas demographic changes were more prominent in Sistan and Baluchistan. Perceived impacts were not uniform across domains, with environmental and demographic changes generally rated more modestly than selected social and economic outcomes. The findings highlight the importance of incorporating social dimensions into environmental management practices and desertification-control planning. These findings may help inform policymakers and environmental stakeholders addressing the growing challenges of desertification in arid regions.