INVESTMENTS (Equity Method Investments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Investments in and Advances to Affiliates, Schedule of Investments [Abstract]
Equity method investment	$ 3,480	$ 3,616
Equity method investments at fair value	17,104	21,843
Total equity method investments	$ 20,584	$ 25,459

This element represents the combination of aggregate cost and fair value of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ares_EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCostAndFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	ares_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the aggregate cost of investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentAggregateCost
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fair value portion of investments accounted under the equity method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 323
-SubTopic 10
-Section 25
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66022186&loc=d3e32014-111567

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration