Re: Living/working in KSA
Living in KSA requires a lot of mental adjustment because it can be a strange place at times, but once you are settled in it can be really enjoyable. I would really recommend going there, the quality of life is great, groceries are cheap, fuel is also really cheap. plus you dont have to pay and taxes on anything and there is virtually negligible crime. However its a bit backward in a few ways and for women life can be quite boring as they arent allowed to drive and are required to have a male relative with them when they go out.
The education is only good in international schools, british and american schools being the best. they are quite expensive but worth the money, however the disadvantage is that there is no education available after high school so most ppl have to go abroad.
As for your friend it is important that he has some sort of prior experience preferably in a MNC in order to get a decent job, job situation is quite bad for expats these days because of saudization and increasing saudi unemployment. A salary of SR 5,000 is quite adequate for a family of four, it also depends on your passport, american,british,candian get the highest pay packages, paki least 
. Renting is only allowed for expats, only saudis can buy property.
Move to jeddah its da bomb!