2012 saw El Welily reach World No.2 for the first time and in September of that year she won her first World Series title by defeating World No.1 Nicol David in the final in the CIMB Malaysian Open.
El Welily's rise to world No. 2 in 2012 was a significant milestone, and she went on to win her first World Series crown that year by defeating the then-world No. 1 Nicol David in the CIMB Malaysian Open final.