Things to do in Lusail City Qatar
Lusail City, Qatar’s hypermodern new development, has a lot of great stuff to offer for Qataris and foreign visitors alike.
Whether you want to glimpse Lusail Stadium, where the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be hosted, or rather spot the most extravagant yachts in Lusail Marina.
Maybe you want to drop by for the beautiful Lusail Light Show, or perhaps you want to show off your shooting skills at the Lusail shooting club. With dozens of things to do and places to visit, you’ll never get bored in Lusail City.
Once it’s finished, the futuristic new city is bound to be Doha’s new hotspot. So let’s find out how you can make the most of your visit to Lusail City. You don’t want to miss out on any of these highlights!
A quick history of Lusail City, Qatar
Before diving into those top things to do in Lusail City, let’s look at the background of this exciting new development.
The name Lusail comes from the term al wassail, the Qatari name for a local plant that grows in the area. But that’s not the only way Lusail City builds on heritage and tradition.
About 23 km north of Doha’s city center, the geographical location is where Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Al Thani, the founder of the State of Qatar, settled and built Lusail Castle.
This site of historical and national significance 2005 was announced as the soon-to-be birthplace of Qatar’s newest modern city. It is developed by Lusail Real Estate Development Company (LREDC), which is government-funded and part of Qatari Diar Real Estate Investment Company.
Lusail City is a key development.
Lusail City is one of the most innovative projects in the country. It not only blends modernity with Qatari tradition and Islamic architecture, but it’s also Qatar’s first sustainable city. As such, Lusail City is a key development that truly embodies the State of Qatar’s National Vision for 2030.
The new city consists of 18 districts, most of which have a specific designated purpose. The area of roughly 38 km² will house 250,000 residents and is expected to accommodate around 450,000 people.
The city will have all the facilities one can wish for, from residential areas to luxury shopping malls to golf courses. So let’s have a closer look at some of the main things to do in Lusail City.
Top 7 things to do and places to visit in Lusail City
If you are a tourist planning a visit to Lusail City, you don’t want to miss out on any highlights. That’s where this Lusail City guide comes in. Below, you’ll find the top 7 places to visit and things to do in Lusail City. Let’s have a look.
1- Lusail Iconic Stadium
Even though Lusail Stadium isn’t finished yet at writing this article, it is guaranteed to be one of the city’s must-visit places.
Lusail Iconic Stadium (or Lusail National Stadium), as it’s officially called, will be Qatar’s main football stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The opening match and the cup final are expected to be held here.
The stadium, located in the Stadium District of Lusail, was designed by Foster + Partners, a London-based architecture and design firm. The art of bowl weaving inspires the interior design, an ancient Arabic craft traditionally practiced in the area. The curved exterior of the building is said to mimic the sails of a traditional dhow boat.
Lusail stadium capacity is planned at an impressive 80,000 seats.
2- Lusail Sports Arena (or Lusail Multipurpose Hall)
Another famous sports venue in Lusail is the Lusail Sports Arena, often referred to as Lusail Multipurpose Hall.
Just like the Lusail Iconic Stadium, the Lusail Arena is designed to mimic aspects of traditional Qatari culture. The stunning arena’s vibrant color scheme reflects the desert, the sea, and the colors of Qatari pearls.
If you have spare time, you should attend a sports match or enjoy a live music concert at Lusail Multipurpose Hall. Be sure to arrive a bit early to admire the architecture before you go in!
3- Lusail Marina
Next up is Lusail’s prime hotspot for tourists and residents alike: Lusail Marina. The marina is much more than just a harbor for yachts; it’s one of the most important districts of Lusail City.
Here are some of the highlights of Lusail Marina.
Lusail Marina Promenade
Lined by dozens of palm trees, the Lusail Marina Promenade is one of the main hotspots in both the district and the city. You can go for a walk, enjoy a run, rent a bicycle, or sit down for a bite to eat or a coffee.
With 3 kilometers of a walkway, you definitely won’t get bored. And don’t forget to take a selfie at the “I Love Lusail” sign before you leave!
Light Me Lusail
The international festival of lights, also called the Lusail Light Show, was first held in 2018 at Lusail Marina Eastern Promenade. The next year it expanded onto the South Promenade as well.
Despite being such a new festival, it has quickly grown into a large tourist attraction.
Katara Towers Lusail
As with so much in Lusail, the architectural design is steeped in Qatari heritage, and it symbolizes the crossed swords emblem of the State of Qatar.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Qatar if they wouldn’t mix this symbolism with astonishing modernity. The Katara Towers Lusail will host the first six-star hotel in the country and a five-star hotel, restaurants, entertainment, and more.
Marina Twin Towers
If you haven’t had enough of architecture yet, you can walk (or take a tram or taxi) from Lusail Marina Promenade a bit more inland to the colorful Marina Twin Towers.
The building hosts office space, so there isn’t much to do for tourists, but admiring its design is definitely worth the small detour!
4 – Lusail Shooting Club
Fancy something a bit different? Then why not give the Lusail Shooting Range a try!
For only QAR100, you can shoot clay pigeons at the Lusail Shooting Club, a fun experience you won’t forget.
5 – Crescent Park Lusail
Found in the Fox Hills district, Crescent Park Lusail is one of the largest and best-known parks in the district.
It opened in March 2019 and is inspired by the desert. There are loads of fun desert-themed playgrounds and other attractions for kids.
Are you in a group of only adults? Not to worry! Crescent Park has beautiful walking and cycling routes, gardens, landscapes, sports facilities, etc.
Are you looking for another Lusail park? Not to worry, there are dozens of parks spread across the city. In Lusail City, you’re bound to find a park that you like!
6 – Qetaifan Islands and Waterpark
Qetaifan consists of four different islands. The islands are expected to be some of Lusail City’s main entertainment hubs.
The state-of-the-art Lusail Beach Club, luxury residential areas, private beaches, retail plaza, beautiful hotels, the lush Linear Park, etc. The Qetaifan Islands contain everything you can dream of. And the main attraction?
That’s the Lusail Water Park! It is spread over almost 130,000 square meters and will include the world’s highest water slide: An 80-meter slide to get your blood pumping!
7 – Place Vendôme Mall Lusail
Set to open in September 2021, Place Vendôme will host all the high-end shops you can think of, just like the Paris original it is named after.
The Place Vendôme Mall Lusail will have a water canal running through it, and aside from shops, it will include a cinema complex and even an amusement park.
It is located in Lusail’s Entertainment City district, which will further contain hotels, luxury apartments for rent or sale, shopping malls, nightclubs, theme parks, and more.
How to get to Lusail City?
Lusail City is located just over 20 kilometers north of Doha’s city center. Lusail is very well connected to the rest of Doha, which means you have multiple options for traveling there.
First of all, you can decide to drive there yourself. From Doha’s city center, it takes about 30 minutes to get there by car.
If you don’t own a car, you can take a taxi or go via Doha Metro. The Doha Metro system is very easy to use, and it will get you from downtown Doha to Lusail City in mere minutes.
From Doha, take the Doha Metro Red Line up to Lusail Metro Station. Alternatively, you can continue on the same line to Lusail Stadium Metro Station.
Living in Lusail City
As you’ve seen, Lusail City will truly be the future city. With all these attractions and sights to see, there’s never a dull moment in Lusail. No wonder so many people – both Qataris and expats – are planning to move to Lusail City! So let’s have a quick look at living in Lusail City.
If you are looking for Lusail apartments for rent, you will be happy to know the choice is almost limitless. From luxurious, high-end apartments in Lusail Marina to more budget-friendly apartments for rent in Lusail Fox Hills.
You can look at some of the many available studio apartments, flats in Lusail, one-bedroom apartments in Lusail, and various houses and villas.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Below, you can find some of the most frequently asked questions about Lusail City.
Where is Lusail City?
Lusail City lies approximately 23 kilometers north of Doha’s city center. It is located just above The Pearl Qatar district.
How many districts does Lusail City have?
Lusail City consists of a total of 18 different districts. Each district was designed with a specific main function. For example, there is a specific Entertainment District, a Marina District, and even a Golf District!
Here is the full list of all districts of Lusail City:
- Golf District
- North Residential District
- Al Kharaej Towers
- Stadium District
- Waterfront Residential District
- Energy City 1
- Waterfront Commercial District
- Fox Hills
- Al Erkyah
- Energy City 2
- Entertainment City
- Entertainment Island
- Medical and Education District
- Qatar Petroleum District
- Marina District
- Qetaifan Islands
- Boulevard Commercial
- Lusail Towers
How can I get to Lusail City?
You have three main options from Doha’s city center to get to Lusail. Drive there yourself by car. This will take about 25 minutes, depending on traffic. Get a taxi, which will take the same time as driving yourself. Take the Doha Metro, which takes about 30 minutes as well.
When will Lusail tram open?
The Lusail Tram network, or Lusail LRT, was scheduled to open in 2021. It is expected to be the main form of transport in and around Lusail City and its districts.
When will Lusail be finished?
Currently, developers claim that around 95% of all the building works in Lusail have been finishing.
All of Lusail City is expected to be completed by 2021, although there is currently some uncertainty as building works had to be partly stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
What is the Lusail Stadium capacity?
Lusail Iconic Stadium will be the largest venue in Qatar for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and it will also host both the opening and the final World Cup matches.
The Lusail Stadium capacity is expected to be at least 80,000 spectators.
When is Light Me Lusail 2021?
The date for Light Me Lusail 2021 has not been announcing yet. In 2020 the annual Lusail Light Show was held from the 15th to the 18th of January. Unfortunately, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the exact dates for the 2021 edition have not been confirming yet.
Read More: 7 Benefits Of Investing In Commercial Real Estate