An Australian woman has reportedly been arrested in Abu Dhabi for posting an image on Facebook of a vehicle blocking two disabled car spots at her apartment block.

Jodi Magi was arrested and jailed for writing "bad words" on social media, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported on Tuesday.

The report said that the 39-year-old artist was found guilty at a trial last month, but that when she attended an Abu Dhabi court to pay a fine on Monday, she was detained by officials.

"They were about to put me in the male lock-up and then they turned me away and no one knows what to do with me," Magi told the ABC from the back of a police car.

"No one is talking to me. No one is telling me what is going on. I've been driving around for literally about four hours."

The photo at the centre of the case reportedly showed a vehicle without any disabled stickers, blocking two car spots reserved for those with disabilities at Magi's apartment block.

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The number plate of the car was reportedly blacked out in the photo, making the vehicle difficult to identify.

The photo has been removed from Facebook since it was posted in February.

On her personal website, Magi said she moved to Abu Dhabi in 2012, where she teaches Emirati women graphic design.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement on Tuesday that it was providing consular assistance to an Australian national who had been arrested in the UAE.