Built in under a year by 1,000 workers, the circuit opened in 2004 and immediately hosted the inaugural Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, won by Sete Gibernau. In 2007, Lusail became the first circuit in the world to add permanent outdoor lighting for night racing, a project carried out by Musco Lighting that represented the largest permanent venue sports lighting project in the world at the time. The distinction later passed to Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.
The first night race in MotoGP history was the 2008 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, held in March 2008. The circuit quickly established itself as a regular fixture on the MotoGP calendar, with the Qatar round traditionally opening the season.
The circuit hosted the 20th race of the 2021 Formula One World Championship season, the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix. Before the second edition of the Grand Prix, the circuit was renovated, its facilities upgraded, and capacity increased from 8,000 to 52,000. The official lap record for the current layout is 1:22.384, set by Lando Norris driving for McLaren in the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. The fastest qualifying lap is 1:19.387, set by Oscar Piastri driving for McLaren in the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix.
Beginning in 2024, the FIA World Endurance Championship adopted Lusail as the venue for its season opener, the Qatar 1812 km, in addition to the Prologue pre-season testing sessions. The circuit thus hosts both the Formula One and WEC calendars in the same year, cementing Qatar's position as a significant centre of international motorsport.
The Superbike World Championship visited Lusail in two distinct periods: 2005 to 2009, and then again from 2014 to 2019. The World Touring Car Championship held the FIA WTCC Race of Qatar at the circuit between 2015 and 2017. A GP2 Asia Series night race took place in February 2009. The circuit has also hosted the Grand Prix Masters (2006), the Speedcar Series (2009), and various national and regional championships.
The circuit currently hosts a dense schedule of events. In October, the FIA World Endurance Championship runs the Qatar 1812 km alongside Classic Endurance Racing. November brings the Formula One Qatar Grand Prix, supporting FIA Formula 2 and Formula 4 rounds, the MotoGP Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, and the Porsche Carrera Cup Middle East. In February, Formula Regional Middle East Trophy and Ferrari Challenge Middle East Prologue events take place. A 24H Series Middle East round runs in December.
Lusail International Circuit transformed Qatar into one of the world's leading motorsport destinations within two decades of opening. The combination of permanent floodlighting enabling night racing, large-scale infrastructure upgrades to expand capacity, and the acquisition of both a Formula One and a World Endurance Championship round reflects the sustained ambition of Qatari motorsport investment. The circuit's design, with its long main straight and multiple technical sectors, has proven adaptable across motorcycle, car, and endurance disciplines.