Fans throwing shoes at the Qatari players after they score their 2nd goal
I think the players were aware that it was going to be tough with the crowd but I think they controlled their emotions very well," said Qatar coach Felix Sanchez.
"It was difficult for the players, it's normal in a semi-final to celebrate, and I think it was only a few people who behaved in a not proper way, most were fair. But it was a great game for us ... I'm very proud and very happy."
Insult was added to indignity in stoppage time when UAE defender Ismail Ahmed was sent off after a VAR review for an elbow to the face of Salem Al-Hajri just before Qatar scored the final goal.
"It was a tough game in this situation and they played in the right way ...they made us happy, the whole country is proud of them," Nasser al-Mohannadi, a Qatari fan who watched the game with thousands of other fans in Doha, told Al Jazeera.
Qatar football fans celebrate the team's success in Doha [Huthifa Fayyad/Al Jazeera]
Qatar football fans celebrate the team's success in Doha [Huthifa Fayyad/Al Jazeera]
"Sport shouldn't mix with politics. Sports can make a huge impact and bring people together. I hope after this tournament, the political situation will improve," he added.
UAE had been hoping to reach the Asian Cup final for the second time, but instead are likely to face FIFA sanctions after the crowd trouble.
The tournament has been played against the backdrop of a regional dispute, which saw Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt sever political, diplomatic and economic ties with Qatar and impose a land, air and sea blockade on the Gulf nation in June 2017.
Qatar thrash UAE to reach Asian Cup football final
Qatar to face Japan in the final after beating hosts in front of a hostile crowd in Abu Dhabi. Qatar beat hosts United Arab Emirates 4-0 to reach the final of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. The win, coming in front of a hostile Abu Dhabi crowd, sealed Qat