The list is designed to crack down on criminal gangs laundering dirty money in the UK.
According to The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, which will draft the register, £180m ($250.3m, €204m) worth of property has been brought under criminal investigation since 2004 as the suspected proceeds of corruption.
Over 75% of properties currently under investigation use offshore corporate secrecy – a tactic regularly seen by investigators pursuing high-level money laundering.
Business secretary Greg Clark said: “We are committed to protecting the integrity and reputation of our property market to ensure the UK is seen as an attractive business environment – a key part of our industrial strategy.
“This world-first register will build on our reputation for corporate transparency as well as helping to create a hostile environment for economic crimes like money laundering.”
The register will also provide greater transparency on overseas companies seeking government contracts.
