Jan 2 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabian shares began 2022 on a positive note, in spite of a jump in cases of the Omicron coronavirus variant. The largest Gulf state, with a population of around 30 million people, registered 1,024 new coronavirus infections and one death on Sunday. read more Saudi Arabia"s benchmark index (.TASI) rose 0.5%, with Al-Rajhi Bank (1120.SE) and Alinma Bank (1150.SE) gaining 1% and 3.5% respectively. In Qatar, the benchmark (.QSI) ended flat, as gains in financial shares helped cap losses in industrial stocks. Sharia-compliant lender Masraf Al Rayan (MARK.QA) jumped 4.3%, while Industries Qatar (IQCD.QA) was down 1.4%. Outside the Gulf, Egypt"s blue-chip index (.EGX30) fell 0.2%, as the country"s lone cigarette maker fell 0.8%. Cleopatra Hospital Group (CLHO.CA), however, gained 2.6% after MCI Capital Healthcare Partners acquired a 22.99% stake at 5.0 Egyptian pounds ($0.3193) per share, valuing the group at an equity value of 8.0 billion Egyptian pound. The index booked a yearly gain of 10.2%. The UAE market was closed as it shifted to a working week of four and half days with a Saturday-Sunday weekend from the start of 2022, while other markets were closed for new year holidays. SAUDI ARABIA (.TASI) rose 0.5% to 11,332 points QATAR (.QSI) traded flat at 11,621 points EGYPT (.EGX30) fell 0.3% to 11,910 points ($1 = 15.6600 Egyptian pounds)