QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Data [Abstract]
Net revenues	$ 207,101	$ 126,706	$ 175,206	$ 129,000	$ 195,552	$ 117,322	$ 166,834	$ 126,133	$ 638,013	$ 605,841	$ 680,793
Cost of revenues	119,946	91,141	104,962	97,777	116,654	85,832	101,229	98,828	413,826	402,543	489,041
Operating income	51,551	8,384	43,891	7,763	46,528	28,853	36,441	(17,239)	111,589	94,583	38,280
Net (loss) / income	21,169	(19,823)	(141,249)	(40,694)	1,137	(21,510)	(11,669)	(70,243)	(180,597)	(102,285)	(151,465)
Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax					(12,418)	(265)	2,684	(3,288)	0	(13,287)	(80,431)
Net loss	21,169	(19,823)	(141,249)	(40,694)	(11,281)	(21,775)	(8,985)	(73,531)	(180,597)	(115,572)	(231,896)
Net (loss) / income attributable to CME Ltd.	$ 21,088	$ (19,627)	$ (141,317)	$ (40,435)	$ (11,427)	$ (21,522)	$ (8,678)	$ (73,274)	$ (180,291)	$ (114,901)	$ (227,428)
Net (loss) / income per share:
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.07	$ (0.14)	$ (0.98)	$ (0.31)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.53)	$ (1.28)	$ (0.90)	$ (1.66)
Effect of dilutive securities (in dollars per share)	(0.01)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.06	$ (0.14)	$ (0.98)	$ (0.31)	$ (0.11)	$ (0.18)	$ (0.09)	$ (0.53)	$ (1.28)	$ (0.90)	$ (1.66)