Converting a Driving License / Getting a Driver

Hi,

Would really appreciate some guidance as I recently moved to Saudi and currently am feeling trapped without my own transport.

Question 1) -

My employer is telling me that I cannot get a Saudi license issued on the basis of my holding a Full UK driving license so they are supposed to be helping me through another means using my old Bahrain license which now seems to have stalled.

However I saw somewhere on this site that getting a license can be done without even the need to do a local training and test. I just need a license translation by an approved translation service, to do a medical (done for the process referred above), go to a driving school to submit application and license translation, pay a fee and its issued then and there.

Which is correct?

Question 2) - in the interim can anyone recommend a reliable and good quality car with driver service, ideally having already Port entry passes for King Abdul Aziz Port. Will be looking at 6am pickups from home and 5:30pm pickups from work, weekdays.

Myself and two colleagues, living at same location in Khobar so a single company car and driver does the pick up / drop off currently, for which the company is deducting 100% x 3 vehicle allowances so a really good deal for the company, not so good for us!

Help greatly appreciated.

Thank you.