Mac purchase suggestions please

Hey everyone — I’m planning to ask a friend in Dubai to pick up a Mac for me (hoping for a pricing advantage) and I’d love your advice. My primary use case: freelancing in finance & accounting (book-keeping, spreadsheets, financial modelling, maybe light analytics) — so processor speed + reliability are top priorities. I’ll also be downloading and using several software tools (spreadsheet apps, accounting packages, and a few analytics/utility tools), so compatibility and vendor support on macOS matters too.

Any suggestions on which Mac to get and what to check when buying from Dubai? Thanks!