To make this clear ...
[ When learning a dialect ]
as an example the Algerian Dialect
you can use it only in Algeria , can understand a little from each Morrocan and Tunisian , and a very little from other dialects ..
The same thing when learning any other dialect , whenever it's close to MSA or not ...
[ While Learning MSA the modern one , THE LANGUAGE ]
you will understand MSA to 100%
you will understand about 70 % of middle east and gulf dialects
you will understand about 40 % of maghreb united dialects ..
SO ? MSA is the best choice ..
PLUS
if you want to read a lot of things , they ARE IN MSA not egyptian , nor Algerian
QURAN , Newspaper , official papers , Signboards , Travel guide , magazines , education , ALL ARE MSA ..
[ as native speaking arabic , and some dialects HOW DO I USE THIS ]
As you see i am from Algeria ..
Algeria has more than 4 dialects that are derived from arabic MSA mixed with the nature and culture and history and colonialism effects as french ...
for me i use middle algerian dialect , it's spoken in the capital as an example ..
there is east , there is west dialects , even in sahara we don't speak the same as them !!!!!!
as an example , YES in MSA is نعم
for me i say اييه iih
for west they say وااه Waah