The best time of the two-time Moto2 champion of one minute, 53.680 seconds, was 0.247 seconds faster than the previous lap record of the Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo in 2008 on the desert track off Doha.
Honda’s reigning Spanish World Champion Marc Marquez was 0.202 slower than Zarco and will start the night race on Sunday in the middle of the front row.
The Italian Danilo Petrucci was third on the grid, 0.005 slower than Marquez, as the best Ducati rider on a non-factory Pramac team motorcycle.
Pole position was Zarco’s third in the top category of motorcycle grand prix races in which he competed last year.
British rider Cal Crutchlow will finish fourth for LCR Honda while works Ducati rider Andrea Dovizioso, Marquez’s main rival last year, qualified fifth.
The Italian Valentino Rossi will start his 23rd Grand Prix season from eighth place for Yamaha at the age of 39.
“A good feeling … also a good start to this new season,” said Zarco, who crashed in the last free practice but was considered a likely race winner and possible title contender this season.
“We have to take a step to be able to win tomorrow. But at least when I have the light bike with the new tires, I feel so good.”
Marquez, who has won four of the last five MotoGP titles, was pleased with his performance.
“Today Johann was amazing, I followed him and he was very fast. We will see the race pace tomorrow,” he said.