The world champion appeared to be on course for a straightforward victory when she won the opening two games 13-11, 11-9 against England’s Sarah-Jane Perry.

An impressive fightback from Perry saw her pull level at the Princess Nora bint Abdul Rahman University in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh.

She was unable to maintain her momentum in the decider as El Welily regained control, with the Egyptian winning 13-11, 11-9, 7-11, 9-11, 11-4.

Egypt’s Nour El Tayeb will provide the opposition after she beat Malaysia’s eight-time world champion Nicol David for the first time her career.

El Tayeb produced a superb performance to triumph 11-7, 14-12, 11-9.

The result confirmed that the semi-finals will be a solely Egyptian affair.

It followed world number one Nour El Sherbini setting up an all-Egyptian clash with Nouran Gohar.

El Sherbini had been yet to lose a game at the tournament and maintained her perfect record by earning a third straight games success, this time overcoming India’s Dipika Pallikal Karthik.

The Egyptian sealed an 11-5, 11-8, 11-4 win to move into the last four of the competition.

Her compatriot Gohar will provide the opposition in the semi-final clash, after she beat Joelle King.

Gohar delivered an impressive display to beat the ninth seeded New Zealand player by an 11-8, 11-6, 11-8 score.

The competition is the first professional women's squash event to take place in Saudi Arabia.

The top eight players in the standings at the end of the season will guarantee their participation at the Professional Squash Association World Series Finals in June.