Manama: The winner of the Arab Idol contest will not be able to keep the car she was offered as a gift prize, her parents have said.

Egyptian Carmen Sulaiman on Friday won the title of 'Arab Idol' defeating Moroccan contestant Donia Batmah and was offered a sponsorship deal with Pepsi and a Chevrolet Corvette.

However, her parents told Kuwait Arabic daily Al Watan that they would not be able to take the Chevy gift home, saying that Egypt's customs duties were exorbitant and that the sports car needed special care.