<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.3.0.15</Version>
  <ProcessingTime />
  <ReportFormat>Html</ReportFormat>
  <ReportType />
  <ContextCount>28</ContextCount>
  <ElementCount>137</ElementCount>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <FootnotesReported>false</FootnotesReported>
  <SegmentCount>6</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R1.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>000990 - Document - Document And Entity Information</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ShortName>Document And Entity Information</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R2.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R3.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>001010 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/ConsolidatedBalanceSheetsUnauditedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R4.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>002000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R5.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>002010 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfIncomeUnauditedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R6.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>003000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementOfStockholdersEquityUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R7.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>003010 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementOfStockholdersEquityUnauditedParenthetical</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R8.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>004000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/ConsolidatedStatementsOfCashFlowsUnaudited</Role>
      <ShortName>CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R9.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006010 - Disclosure - BASIS OF PRESENTATION</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/BasisOfPresentation</Role>
      <ShortName>BASIS OF PRESENTATION</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R10.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006020 - Disclosure - RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/RecentAccountingPronouncements</Role>
      <ShortName>RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R11.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006030 - Disclosure - TRADE RECEIVABLES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/TradeReceivables</Role>
      <ShortName>TRADE RECEIVABLES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R12.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006040 - Disclosure - INVENTORIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/Inventories</Role>
      <ShortName>INVENTORIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R13.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006050 - Disclosure - PLANT, PIPELINE AND EQUIPMENT</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/PlantPipelineAndEquipment</Role>
      <ShortName>PLANT, PIPELINE AND EQUIPMENT</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R14.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006060 - Disclosure - NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT CO.</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/NetIncomePerCommonShareAttributableToArabianAmericanDevelopmentCo</Role>
      <ShortName>NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ARABIAN AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT CO.</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R15.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006070 - Disclosure - LIABILITIES AND LONG-TERM DEBT</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/LiabilitiesAndLongTermDebt</Role>
      <ShortName>LIABILITIES AND LONG-TERM DEBT</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R16.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006080 - Disclosure - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/FairValueMeasurements</Role>
      <ShortName>FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R17.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006090 - Disclosure - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/DerivativeInstruments</Role>
      <ShortName>DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R18.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006100 - Disclosure - STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/StockBasedCompensation</Role>
      <ShortName>STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R19.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006110 - Disclosure - INCOME TAXES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ShortName>INCOME TAXES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R20.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006120 - Disclosure - POST RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/PostRetirementObligations</Role>
      <ShortName>POST RETIREMENT OBLIGATIONS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R21.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006130 - Disclosure - INVESTMENT IN AL MASANE AL KOBRA MINING COMPANY AMAK</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/InvestmentInAlMasaneAlKobraMiningCompanyAmak</Role>
      <ShortName>INVESTMENT IN AL MASANE AL KOBRA MINING COMPANY AMAK</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R22.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006140 - Disclosure - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/RelatedPartyTransactions</Role>
      <ShortName>RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <HtmlFileName>R23.htm</HtmlFileName>
      <LongName>006150 - Disclosure - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES</LongName>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <Role>http://arabianamericandev.com/role/CommitmentsAndContingencies</Role>
      <ShortName>COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES</ShortName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <Logs>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 001000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2010'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">	Process Flow-Through: Removing column 'Sep. 30, 2009'</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 001010 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (unaudited) (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 002000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 002010 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 003010 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited) (Parenthetical)</Log>
    <Log type="Info">Process Flow-Through: 004000 - Statement - CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)</Log>
  </Logs>
  <InputFiles>
    <File>arsd-20110930.xml</File>
    <File>arsd-20110930.xsd</File>
    <File>arsd-20110930_cal.xml</File>
    <File>arsd-20110930_def.xml</File>
    <File>arsd-20110930_lab.xml</File>
    <File>arsd-20110930_pre.xml</File>
  </InputFiles>
  <SupplementalFiles />
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
