The circuit measures 5.419 km (3.367 mi) in length with a main straight of 1.068 km (0.664 mi) and holds an FIA Grade 1 licence. Artificial grass surrounds the perimeter to prevent desert sand from encroaching onto the racing surface — a practical necessity in the Qatari environment. The track was built to attract the motorcycle Grand Prix, and its inauguration in 2004 hosted the first Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, won by Sete Gibernau.
The most transformative early development came in 2007 when the circuit installed permanent outdoor floodlighting, becoming at the time the largest permanent venue sports lighting project in the world. This infrastructure enabled the first night race in MotoGP history: the 2008 Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix, held in March of that year. The circuit's association with night racing became a defining characteristic, setting it apart from the majority of the global motorcycle calendar.
Other series followed. The GP2 Asia Series held a night race at Lusail in February 2009. The Superbike World Championship visited in 2005–2009 and returned for a second stint from 2014 to 2019. The World Touring Car Championship came to the circuit between 2015 and 2017.
Formula One arrived at Lusail in 2021, when the circuit hosted the 20th race of the season as the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix. Before the event's return, the facilities were significantly upgraded and capacity was expanded from 8,000 to 52,000 spectators. Beginning in 2024, the FIA World Endurance Championship added Lusail to its calendar as the season-opening Qatar 1812 km race.
The circuit design is a flowing, technical anti-clockwise layout typical of purpose-built venues of the early 2000s. The combination of long straights and medium-speed corners suits a wide variety of machinery. Its location in Qatar means that ambient temperatures and surface conditions can vary considerably between daytime qualifying sessions and evening or nighttime races, adding a strategic layer to competition.
The official race lap record as of 2026 stands at 1:22.384, set by Lando Norris driving for McLaren in the 2024 Qatar Grand Prix. The fastest ever qualifying time at the circuit is 1:19.387, set by Oscar Piastri for McLaren in the 2025 Qatar Grand Prix.
Lusail's role in Qatari sport extends beyond motor racing. Its construction was part of a broader national programme of high-profile sports infrastructure development, and the venue's MotoGP heritage predates Qatar's subsequent involvement in FIFA World Cup 2022 hosting and other global sporting events. The circuit demonstrated that a venue built at speed in a desert environment could achieve Grade 1 standards and compete for the world's most prestigious race series, a template that influenced later Gulf motorsport developments.