Attempted murder charge after woman burned

A man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly setting a woman on fire in Sydney's CBD.

The 34-year-old woman was splashed with a flammable liquid and set alight in the gym area of an apartment complex in Haymarket shortly after 6pm (AEDT) on Friday, police said.

Neighbours reported seeing the woman run through a hallway screaming in pain, the Daily Telegraph reports.

The building's security guards reportedly raised the alarm and assisted the woman until emergency services arrived.

The woman, an Australian resident of Thai background, was rushed by ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital, then transferred to Concord Hospital, which has a specialist burns unit.

The woman remains in hospital in a critical condition, with burns to up to 60 percent of her body, including her upper body and face.

A 28-year-old man, also of Thai background, was found at a residence in nearby Ultimo a short time after the attack with burns to his arms and injuries to his feet and torso.

He spent the weekend under police guard and was arrested yesterday afternoon upon his release from hospital.

He was charged last night with cause wounding/grievous bodily harm with intent to murder, and breaching an apprehended violence order.

He has been refused bail and will appear before Central Local Court today.

Police are treating the incident as a domestic violence attack.