hi
i lived there from 2000-2002 with dh. IT IS FINE. we loved it. i did teach however, which probably kept me a bit more active as women can really only work in the teaching and nursing professions.
you would get placed on a compound of your choice which is basically like a plush holiday resort wih leisure facilities, pools, shops on the larger ones, plenty of groups to join in possibly yours or other's compounds. you'll develop a good social life, excellent in fact although we were there before children. if you can meet someone with links to the british or american or any other embassy you can get your name put on the list for many many social gatherings/parties where there is REAL alcohol! yes drinking is illegal, but a blind eye is turned inside these places. everyone brews their own beer and wine at home.
for kids, i dont know much about life outside of school, but there is a superb british school, where i taught in reception , \link{http://www.britishschoolriyadh.com/here}
you couldnt find a better school in the uk i reckon! seriously. your husband's company should pay the fees.
as a woman you would need to either take a taxi places, or i would recommend finding a driver, not a local taxi, who you would use regularly. you'll get to know them and can trust them and they will just take you where u want to go when u want to go, wait for you, take you home, etc. you prob pay them weekly or something. they would drive for other people too. you'd just ask around for someone to give you the number of theirs to share! but, being on a compound would also mean you get a free bus daily to various larger shopping centres/areas. no problem.
you just cover up what you are wearing to go outside of your compound, with an abaya, its just a really thin black material. it buttons over your clothes and you take a thin headscarf to hang around your neck incase the religious police 'matawa' should spot you and shout 'cover your head'. basically you will be thought of by them as a western slut. they're easily recognisable with their long beards and jewellery over their tunics.
the weather is hot in summer months, getting up to 50-60 deg C. yep ! but it is so dry - almost no humidity at all, that you never sweat, can cope so easily with the heat, and like someone said earlier, dont get burnt as there is so much sand in the air! (i dont mean blowing around, but high in the atmosphere, creating a block!) shame, but never got much of a tan there!
you can buy anything you need, but like i said, not so sure about kids, but i had lots of friends with children and there were never any complaints. all compounds run bus services to school for the children, very well monitored and looked after.
but, i wouldnt be so sure about going there now with children. its got a lot more political, and we were there during 9/11 and there were q a few bomb threats. a few people killed from car bombs. we were all told to be vigilant and check cars every day. the week after we left the compound attached to the british school was gatecrashed with openfire. lots of my friends were there. some hurt, no one killed.
you can walk alongside your husband of course. wouldnt hold hands and def no kissing in public! its getting a but better with regards to women, but still most strict place in saudi. kingdon shopping centre has a floor just for women where staff are women!! (revolution) and you can take off your abaya!! eating places have 'family areas' and 'men only areas'. most have booths so local women can remove their face covering and actually eat without being seen by other men!
its all very bizarre and a real eye opener, but honestly, its fine. you tend to live in your little expat bubble until you go shopping. i would just be concerned about the current political issues.
email me if you like, can let you know anything.
oh, the houseboy may come with the company. i lived with dh and his single work colleagues, in a small compound and we all shared a houseboy who did the cooking and another that cleaned and washed, i did nothing at all!!! got to me in the end actually, just being around single guys all the time, so we moved onto a more family orientated compound where i got a cleaner to do a few hours a week when i was at work. ironed and cleaned the house. niiiiice.