Eastern Arabic, Egyptian Arabic or Modern Standard Arabic- What is the difference?

What is the difference? Arabic has one standard, formal, written form, Modern Standard Arabic or MSA, that is used and understood throughout the Arab world. While primarily written, MSA is also spoken in highly formal situations, in higher education, in sermons, and in the courts of law. In the reading component of the Pimsleur Arabic courses (Egyptian and Eastern), the Arabic alphabet is introduced in MSA. In its every day spoken form, however, Arabic is represented by many regional, generally mutually intelligible dialects. Of these many dialects, the seven primary ones are: Eastern Arabic, Egyptian Arabic, Gulf Arabic, Iraqi Arabic, Saudi Arabic, North African Arabic, and Yemeni Arabic Eastern Arabic: Eastern Arabic is the dialect spoken in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine, and is also very well understood in eastern and southeastern parts of the Arab world. Pimsleur’s Eastern Arabic is based on the dialect of Damascus, Syria. Egyptian Arabic: Egyptian Arabic is mainly spoken in urban Egypt and has also gained a high degree of acceptance throughout the Arabic-speaking world because of its use in films. Pimsleur's Egyptian Arabic teaches the Cairene dialect, the dialect of the Egyptian capital. Modern Standard Arabic: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) is the standard and written form of Arabic used and understood throughout the Arab world. Though primarily written, MSA is also spoken in formal situations, higher education, sermons, media, and in the courts of law. Pimsleur Arabic Free Lesson