CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preference shares [Member]	Common shares [Member]	Additional paid-in capital [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive income [Member]	Retained earnings [Member]	Treasury shares [Member]	Noncontrolling interest in subsidiaries [Member]	Preference shares - Series D [Member] Preference shares [Member]	Preference shares - Series D [Member] Additional paid-in capital [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2015		$ 480,000	$ 747	$ 579,178	$ (23,767)	$ 316,184	$ (4,521)	$ 1,278
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preference shares – Series D									$ 0
Exercise of options and issuance of shares			4	438
Share-based compensation expense				1,836
Issuance costs of preference shares - Series D										$ 0
Change in net unrealized gains on investment					147,905
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(5,212)			15
Net income attributable to Maiden	$ 76,826					76,826
Dividends on preference shares						(18,700)
Dividends on common shares						(20,734)
Shares repurchased							(470)
Acquisition of subsidiary								14
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest								(24)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	110							(110)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2016	1,530,887	480,000	751	581,452	118,926	353,576	(4,991)	1,173
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Maiden	39,933
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	46
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2016	1,530,887	480,000	751	581,452	118,926	353,576	(4,991)	1,173
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	1,361,152	315,000	873	749,256	14,997	285,662	(4,991)	355
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preference shares – Series D									$ 150,000
Exercise of options and issuance of shares			4	1,006
Share-based compensation expense				1,470
Issuance costs of preference shares - Series D										$ (5,025)
Change in net unrealized gains on investment					48,582
Foreign currency translation adjustment					(28,004)			29
Net income attributable to Maiden	10,197					10,197
Dividends on preference shares						(12,066)
Dividends on common shares						(25,987)
Shares repurchased							(575)
Acquisition of subsidiary								0
Dividend paid to noncontrolling interest								0
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	31							(31)
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2017	1,500,752	465,000	877	746,707	35,575	257,806	(5,566)	353
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to Maiden	(16,326)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	9
Ending balance at Jun. 30, 2017	$ 1,500,752	$ 465,000	$ 877	$ 746,707	$ 35,575	$ 257,806	$ (5,566)	$ 353