Saudi is extremely conservative, but the whole ME isn't like that.

I grew up nearly the first half of my life in Oman. It was just like here, but even cleaner, fewer large cities (which are a bit smaller, except Dubai), and damn hot. Kuwait, UAE, Bahrain, etc are like this too. The strictest it gets is that you can't eat in public during Ramadan.

Living as an expatriate in the Middle East is a very nice life. Your company pays for everything: house, they give you the car to own, servant, everything. Even if a lightbulb is burnt out, someone will come and replace it for you. You don't really spend on anything other than food and clothing. The cities are beautiful. Work there for the most part is very easy going too. Really, it's like a giant vacation. My parents would've loved to have stayed there, but they come here because there are many more oppurtunities for youngsters. Foreigners greatly outnumber the locals in Saudi, Kuwait, UAE, Oman, Bahrain. Mostly Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, English and Australian.

Btw, the beaches in Oman are BEAUTIFUL. 100% natural. I've traveled a lot since moving from there and have yet to come across anything even close to as amazing. Oh, and no taxes at all in Oman.