I work in Dubai/Doha and want to marry again there: do I need Malaysian permission?

Yes. The permission of a Malaysian Syariah Court is still required even if the country of the contract allows polygyny without permission. The domicile law of a Malaysian man still applies (Act 303 s.23; state Enactments). A polygynous contract in the Gulf without that permission may lead to action under the state Islamic family law when it is registered in Malaysia. In the Gulf, the contract must be concluded by a licensed officer or court; in Bahrain the marital status and the name of the existing wife are recorded in the contract, while in Qatar the existing wife is notified after the contract. Expatriate workers usually need status documents and embassy confirmation (check with the embassy or the authorities of that country). An unregistered contract affects visas, residence and the children's lineage. See Gulf countries.