To address the ecological issues in water-deficient abandoned mining areas caused by outdated resource development methods and lack of environmental protection and to improve the comprehensive utilization rate of the "three wastes" in mining, this study investigated a sand-fixing and water-retention technology using sludge acrylic water-absorbing resins. An ecological restoration strategy system for water-deficient abandoned mining areas in Northwestern China based on water-retention materials was proposed. The ecological restoration performance of the sludge acrylic water-absorbing resins was compared with that of microbial ecological restoration technology. The results demonstrated that the water-retention agent containing sludge acrylic water-absorbing resins had a stabilizing effect on soil moisture, slowing the rate of soil moisture loss and increasing soil water content, which effectively promoted plant growth. Additionally, sludge acrylic water-absorbing resins exhibited a certain capacity for heavy metal adsorption. Although its restoration performance was slightly inferior to microbial ecological restoration, it offered better economic benefits. Combining microbial fertilizers with sludge acrylic water-absorbing resins in vegetation restoration projects can further enhance the rate of vegetation recovery in mining areas. The research outcomings provide scientific guidance for designing ecological restoration schemes for similar water-deficient abandoned mining areas.